Our People

About the Firm

We’re flattered that Chambers and Partners quoted one of our clients as saying, “One of my top, if not the top, trial firm in the country.” But civil litigation is only the beginning. Whatever complex problem confronts you, chances are we have the expertise and experience to help.

Diversity

Starnes Davis Florie is firmly committed to the values of diversity and equality. We believe our firm is strengthened by the broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and voices represented by our attorneys and staff.

Careers

Starnes Davis Florie is more than just one of the nation’s leading civil litigation firms. It’s also a great place to work. In fact, we were named one of Birmingham’s Best Places to Work by the Birmingham Business Journal, in recognition of our culture of employee engagement, retention, and loyalty.

G. Matthew Keenan (Matt)

Matt’s practice is focused on the representation of sureties, developers, contractors and design professionals as well as businesses in general litigation in federal and state courts and in arbitration. His practice also includes defending employers against EEOC claims, administrative and judicial redemption of real property encumbered by tax certificates or tax deeds, defending businesses in automobile liability matters, and products liability litigation.

Professional Recognition

Rising Star for the State of Alabama by Alabama Super Lawyers® magazine

Community Involvement

Matt is involved in the Birmingham Bar Association’s New Lawyer Mentoring Program, the Homewood City Schools, the Northern District of Alabama’s Plan for Pro Bono Counsel for Qualified Unrepresented Parties in Civil Cases, and the Alabama Surety Association.

Matt has devoted time to the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program and also serves as an elder at his church where he and his family are actively involved.

Highlights

Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland v. Jefferson County Commission, 756 F. Supp. 2d 1329 (N.D. Ala. 2010) – Prevailed in summary judgment on behalf of Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland who had issued a Performance Bond concerning the installation of a new elevator system in a county courthouse. The Court agreed that the owner, not the Surety, was in breach of the A312 Bond by limiting who the Surety could hire to complete the project when the Surety elected to proceed under the takeover provision of the Bond.

J. Lester Alexander, III, in his capacity as Liquidating Trustee of Franklin Pharmacy, LLC v. Timothy Aaron; et al. – Successfully represented a publicly traded Canadian corporation in defense of a bankruptcy trustee’s action to recover millions of dollars on behalf of creditors of a Florida entity that was the subject of an attempted acquisition.

The Hanover Insurance Company v. Hudak & Dawson Construction Co., Inc.; et al. – Upon the contractor’s failure to fulfill its indemnity obligations, successfully recovered on behalf of the Surety proceeds of the defunct company’s six-figure claim under the BP/Deepwater Horizon settlement.

Alvin Thomas v. Travelers Casualty & Surety Co. of America; et al. – Obtained affirmance from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Travelers in an action by a subcontractor under the Federal Miller Act.

Phillips v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; et al., 438 F. Supp. 2d 1328, (S.D. Ala. 2006) – Diabetic plaintiff brought a products liability action against Honda claiming he suffered burns to his feet due to excessively high temperatures generated by the ATV. Successfully excluded the plaintiff’s expert testimony under a Daubert analysis and obtained a complete dismissal of all claims for Honda.

First Automotive Service Corp., N.M. v. First Colonial Ins. Co., 2008 WL 816973 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 25, 2008) – After removing the action to federal court in Florida, successfully fought a request for remand on the basis that a co-defendant had been fraudulently joined to defeat diversity jurisdiction.

Guarantee Co. of North America USA v. Wainwright; et al., 2011 WL 1807454 (M.D. Ala. May 11, 2011) – Successfully opposed multiple motions for summary judgment in prosecution of a Surety’s claims for indemnity and exoneration against its principal and indemnitors along with claims for breach of notary obligations and breach of a notary bond against a notary and bank.

Powell v. City of Bessemer; et al. – Obtained summary judgment in favor of a municipality and two police officers against a claim for wrongful arrest where the plaintiff had been arrested for capital murder but was later exonerated after someone else confessed.

Altapointe Health Systems, Inc. v. J.C. Duke & Associates General Contractors, Inc.; et al. – Prevailed at trial on behalf of a Surety where a mental health facility and obligee under the Bond refused to release the remaining contract funds to the Surety following completion of the project by the Surety’s completion contractor.

Northstar Paramedic Services v. City of Bessemer; et al. – Obtained summary judgment in favor of a municipality where paramedic services company alleged deprivation of a property interest and procedural due process rights in its removal from the municipality’s E-911 rotation.

Brad Hill, Administrator of the Estate of Billy Michael Hill, deceased v. Ronnie May; et al. – Obtained a complete dismissal of claims in federal court arising from the death of a prisoner in a county jail.

Phillips v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., 2006 WL 1889564 (S.D. Ala. July 10, 2006) – Successfully fought a plaintiff’s attempt to vacate a judgment where he argued that the exclusion of its expert was in error.

DISCLAIMER: The following language is required by the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be
performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.